something new

i finished my top. all the ends have been hidden, all the sewing complete.

this is the photo i took yesterday before i completed the finishing work.


the color is accurate in the above photo.

but today, i took it outside to shoot photos on my dress form.


… and i played with one of my photo apps to "see" it in other colors!

i will wear this to work tomorrow. i wish i had a prettier cami, but the basic black will just have to do. i will eventually keep my eyes out for a pretty cami in the future.

a really quick sewing project!

i love holidays. all holidays. really.

the next holiday coming up around here is the 4th of July. i'm a sucker for RED WHITE and BLUE. hmmm … the white doesn't show up so much here.


regardless, i purchased these fabrics this morning.

on the left, is my largest cut --- a full 1/2 yard (the butterfly fabric). all the others are only 1/4 of a yard of fabric. from all this fabric, i was able to make 2 pennant banners.

this is the important part --- i followed this tutorial !

and it was so easy. my scraps consisted of the selvedge ends, trimming the other edges to keep square, and a triangle half.

ps. when i cut my fabric, it was 'wrong sides together'. i squared it up (trimmed the top and bottom edges, and cut off the selvedge), and my last triangle was made from the last diagonal cut on the fold.

the first pennant banner has all the mini-prints in red, white & blue, with the butterflies on the backside. the second banner has a mix of leftovers. my fabric purchase got me 2 full banners, with 3 finished pennants leftover.

looking at my receipt,  spent almost $8 in fabric, plus the 2 packages of bias tape.

but, it's not about the money (or time), it's about the fun and ease of making these decorations!

now, after their photo shoot, they will anxiously wait until next month =)

ps. the fabrics were not pre-washed. all i did was press & cut. i considered pinking the edges, but since the edges are on the diagonal, they are not as prone to fray.

getting closer ...

I've completed the neckline and sleeves, and started the ribbing around the bottom hem. after i finish the hem, i will try on again, and decide if i need to tighten up the neck ribbing.

on the sleeves, i knitted with the same sized needle (3.25mm) but switched to a smaller needle for the last few rounds and bind off --- to keep it from flaring. i might need to do that on the neck as well.

but on the bottom hem, i might not do that --- as it needs to stretch out a bit for the hips.


there will be lots of ends to weave in (each square has 2 ends).

it has a good amount of weight to it now, with the ribbing.

the crochet is single stranded and the ribbing is doubled.

i'm already thinking about my next project … knit? crochet? both?

on the sleeve!

i've completed the ribbing around the neck opening, and am now working on the sleeves.

the knitting is going quickly. i'm also amazed at how little thread the ribbing is using thus far (i am using 2 strands held together).

i'm using balls 3 & 4, and have a 5th in waiting (if i need it).

crochet & knit

i am still knitting on the insouciant tee, and making great progress on another tee i half-heartedly started last year.

last year, i swatched and started a crochet top, with knitted edges (i.e.: neck, armholes, and bottom hem). it's a tee that is crocheted with motifs and a "join-as-you-go" method of connecting all the squares.


i decided not too long ago, to give it another go … because, 1) i had the yarn (cotton thread), 2) i had the pattern, 3) i thought it would be fun.

and it is fun!

and it's pretty.

and i hope it fits well.


a couple of weekends ago, when i picked this project back up, i decided i "needed" a coordinating bag for my project, … thus the ladybug bag.

i have somewhat outgrown this bag though, because right now i am knitting the ribbing around the neck, and the ribbing is double stranded thread (which i'm knitting off of two balls of thread).


but since it's almost bedtime, i don't really see myself cranking out another project bag tonight.

maybe tomorrow? hmmm …..


red … i should wear more red. i bought some red flowers today. i only paid a few cents more than i would pay for a cut bouquet. these lilies are perennials, so after they're done for the season, they will go into the ground … somewhere ---- hey mom ! i got you some flowers !!!

i'm not sure why ...

… may seems much busier for me.

i have settled into a routine. a routine of work, exercise, netflix, not house cleaning.

and i have unfortunately been having some issues with my projects.

my remix sweater is "on hold" … the arm depth seems a bit shallow, and i might have to insert a gusset when i finish off the side seams.

the kitty … DONE!


this projects was fast and easy … and crocheted with stash yarn. this is pusheen, and i don't know anything about this kitty, but it has a Facebook "sticker", and it's kinda cute (ravelry pattern page here).

since then, i've had multiple project fails.

today i had a small success though …


i sewed a few project bags. they're not really that big. 2 of them were sewn from fat quarters.

they are quite simple. straight stitch and zigzag. i don't even change my thread color (use white thread).

for drawstrings, i have either parachute cord or ribbon. the cord locks are from old stash as well --- when i use to sew backpacking gear.

i wanted at least one new bag, but stitched up 3 because i had some free time, and wanted a bag to somewhat coordinate with my newest project.


this is insouciant.

i've wanted to knit this tee for about a year and a half. i bought the yarn sometime in the last year, and i swatched a few nights ago.

it is double stranded silk. it is oversized. and, it's going to be my "mindless" project.

happily crafting

i am finishing up my remix sweater. i have sewn 3 out of 4 of the raglan seams. and now, i take a break.

i know i should plow on, but i feel like starting something new.

a kitty.


this is "pusheen". i know nothing of this kitty other than it is one of the free "stickers" via face book messaging.

i don't have the correct colors in acrylic, but i do in my fingering wool (some very old knitpicks palette).

so, i'm holding 2 strands together, with my handy dandy german F hook (it does not have the mm size on it).

this is to be a gift.

there's so many other things i should be doing. but instead, i'm crocheting a fat kitty.

progress update

my sweater back is finished, and now i'm on the fun parts (the front --- with all the cables and lace). i've already split for the neckline, so i'm knitting with 2 balls attached.

i'd like to knit on this some more today, but i need to take advantage of the daylight and get some other things done.


yesterday afternoon, i also made a bit of progress on the lace shawl. some of the progress was knitting, and the other was sewing a quick little bag to keep the project in.




the fabric was such a small piece, maybe 1/4" yard. so i cut it crosswise, sewed the side seams and left a gap on one side to do a casing for the drawstring. i made the bag long enough to fit the straight needles i'm using for this project.